INTERNATIONAL duties have severely hampered Hull City's preparations for tomorrow's visit of the Minstermen to Boothferry Park, writes Dave Stanford.

With four players away with their countries on World Cup missions, Hull were forced to postpone their game with Hartlepool last week.

The Tigers then suffered a crushing blow in midweek when news filtered through from the Caribbean that defender Ian Goodison had injured himself falling from a motorbike.

Goodison was involved in a collision with a car in Kingston in the early hours of the morning when he was supposed to be part of the Jamaican squad preparing for important World Cup qualifying games.

Although Jamaica's World Cup hopes ended this week, a badly bruised Goodison is not expected back in the country until early next week.

Hull's mood has not been eased by the fact their other Jamaican star, Theodore Whitmore, was injured in a road crash last January while on international duty.

He has again been with Jamaica this week and is expected to be return to Hull this evening.

Depending on how he recovers from jet-lag, Whitmore is still expected to line-up against City.

Welsh Under-21 international Michael Price has returned unscathed from international duty, as has Faroe Islands captain Julian Johnsson.

However, Johnsson has played two gruelling World Cup games this week, including Wednesday night's 3-0 defeat to Russia.

Tigers' chief Brian Little admitted he will not be naming his side until an hour before kick-off.

Little, who spent almost £900,000 this summer on 13 new players, said: "It has been a very difficult week.

"Obviously, York City have had a lot smoother time, their preparations will have gone a lot better and they will be looking to use that to their advantage so.

"It will be Saturday afternoon before I know what my team is going to be."

Little, who has had his brother Alan, the former City boss who is now scouting for Hull, casting his eye over the Minstermen in recent weeks, will definitely be without Ryan Williams, who caused the Minstermen so many problems last season while in Chesterfield colours.

Williams is out with a knee injury, as is Mark Greaves while Scott Kerr, who was playing for Bradford City in the Premiership last season, is out with back injury.

Full back Andy Holt, a £160,000 buy from Oldham, is expected to make his first start since his summer switch after recovering from a toe injury.

Updated: 11:46 Friday, September 07, 2001